Comment

Comment by Davis Goodman on April 2, 2017 at 5:06pm

There are many overlapping spheres of Nordic countries depending on geography, language, sociopolitical status and measure of autonomy. Here they are:

Geographically: Canada, Iceland, Norway, Denmark (plus its two territories Greenland and Faroe Islands), Sweden, Finland (and its autonomous Swedish speaking Åaland Islands) and Russia and the state of Alaska. All of these countries (also via their territories) have a claim of some kind or another over the arctic ocean and most with the North poll except Sweden.

Then there are the Nordic secular welfare states (no territories). They are Canada, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.

Then there is the Nordic council (a loose association of the Nordic states: Denmark (including Inuit speaking Greenland and The Faroe Islands) Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland (with the Åaland Islands).

Then there are the Nordic countries in the EU: Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Norway and Iceland opted out because of their natural resources which they wanted to protect from regulations. The two territories of Denmark are not in the EU but are in the European Economic area and with rights of abode. The Åaland Islands are in the EU.

Then there are the countries of the Nordic branch of Germanic languages which are Icelandic and Faroese (they have limited mutual inteligibility) and then Norwegian, Danish and Swedish which is a language continuum with a high level of mutual intelligibility between them. Finland is the odd one out as their language isn't even Indo-European which is the family of almost all European languages. The Saami is a minority group, cousins of the Finnish who live in the North of Finland, Sweden and Norway. There is also a Swedish. All people from all geographically Nordic countries have a high level of English if not bilingual with the exception of Russia. The people of Greenland speak an Inuit language totally unrelated to Europe which is similar to some languages in Northern Canada and the Eskimo of Alaska.

The following are Nordic countries and Territories with nordic crosses on their flags (Greenland has a half sun symbolic of their Innuit culture):

Iceland, Åaland Islands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Faroe Islands and a symbolic flag for the Saami people which technically is a nation spread through several countries.

If Scotland were to separate from the UK in their next referendum they would have a strong case to join the Nordic groups ad no doubt would be admitted. There are also a couple more small Islands and provinces within the countries with their own flags.

The Shetland Islands of Northen Scotland with a notable historical relationship with Scandinavia has a Nordic cross on its flag.

Comment by Pope Beanie on April 2, 2017 at 2:57pm

I just want to hear more from you guys, like how do y'all seem to get life and politics working so well?

I confess I can only recall four Nordic countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.I didn't even know six flags were so similar in design... sharing like a retired Christian cross, right? (jk)

Comment by Stephen Sutton on July 1, 2013 at 10:17am

Joining the gang, from Helsinki.

Comment by Miro Lahtela on November 25, 2011 at 3:40am

 =)

Comment by Great Dane on November 18, 2011 at 9:55am

@Miro: Are you sure it is missing? ;)

Comment by Miro Lahtela on November 18, 2011 at 7:35am

Not complaining, but where is the finnish flag?

Comment by Heather Spoonheim on October 31, 2011 at 11:38am

My great-grandfather (paternal,paternal) was from Norway.  I understand our name was spelled differently there and got changed in Ellis Island.  I do see the odd Sponheim mentioned in Norwegian news; one being the police chief investigating the Oslo massacre.

Comment by Marcus Persius on October 31, 2011 at 1:56am

Welcome Heather :)

Where are your ancestors from?

Comment by Heather Spoonheim on October 30, 2011 at 7:00pm

Well, you got any room on your sofa?  I'll be glad to come live there, :D

Comment by Great Dane on October 30, 2011 at 6:55pm

Strictly speaking I created this group in hope to make notice of atheists living in any of the Nordic countries. But if you feel strongly about your lineage I will not stop you ;)

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